DRAWING NEAR
December 4
Progressive Revelation
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in
many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to
us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2).
The Old Testament is but a sample of what is revealed in the New
Testament.
When Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the
Prophets [the Old Testament]; I did not come to abolish, but to
fulfill" (Matt. 5:17), He was affirming that Scripture progressed
from promise to fulfillment, from partial to complete. We call that
progressive revelation.
For example, the Old Testament anticipated Christ's coming; the New
Testament records His coming. The Old Testament writers didn't
understand everything they wrote because it didn't always apply to
their day. That's why Peter said, "As to this salvation, the prophets
who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful
search and inquiry, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of
Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of
Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they
were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have
been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by
the Holy Spirit" (1 Pet. 1:10-12).
Progressive revelation doesn't at all imply that the Old Testament is
inaccurate. The distinction isn't in the rightness or wrongness of
the revelation, but in its completeness. Just as a child progresses
from letters to words to sentences, so God's revelation progressed
from types, ceremonies, and prophecies to final completion in Jesus
Christ and the New Testament.
Though incomplete by New Testament standards, the Old Testament is
nonetheless fully inspired by God. That's affirmed often in the New
Testament. Peter tells us that no human writer of the Old Testament
wrote of his own will, but only as he was directed by the Holy Spirit
(2 Pet. 1:21). Paul added that "all Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, [and] for
training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).
The Old Testament isn't all of God's truth, but all of it is true.
And as you progress from the Old to the New, you see God's character
and redemptive plan unfolding in greater detail.
Suggestion for Prayer:
Praise God for the fullness of revelation you enjoy in Scripture.
For Further Study:
Memorize 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
2 Peter 1:21 (NKJV)
for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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